2026 Free Agent Thread

Exactly.
Like it's backbreaking work to scroll ahead anyways. LoL

 

This My friend is exactly what happened. I totally remember people doing the Seattle comparison at the time, and saying, why do we have to run such a complicated D, and Seattle can go to the SB with young players. Hell there were even many articles about it. You think I was a Tomlin fan, it was nothing compared to the Lebeau fan I was. I used to get into long freaking debates about it, and now it's funny that probably those same exact people now complain about having a more simplified D, and wish they had Lebeau. LoL. You can't win with some fans. Damn if you do, damned if you don't.

 

This.

Ben was a notorious slow starter for his entire career (notable exception was the playoff game in Denver early in his career).

At the end, I don't think he had the accuracy to excel against good defenses playing tight coverage. But then he could rack up stats when they were playing off with big leads (after crushing turnovers).

 

Agreed.

It's sad, but the economics of the league really tarnished the beauty of LeBeau's defense.

That and new rules.

And Tom ****ing Brady who was just elite at taking what the defense gave him.

 

I still love LeBeau.

Just seems like such a solid person.

Great (somewhat) recent interviews:
Terrible Podcast


All Things Covered


There's also one with Cam that I just realized exists...will listen tomorrow


Always comes across as so humble despite great accomplishments. And the love for his players just seems to shine through whenever I hear him talk.

 

I remember having just heated discussions about Lebeau's system and its complexity vs the apparent ease in which OC's and QB's abused it. I'd go round and round with people who said it can't be that tough because random rookie QB did well against it. I'd tell them the blueprint for attacking the system is out there and has little to do with the complexity of it. Running short crossing routes into the holes in the zone was easy to attack while everyone on defense had multiple roles on any given look from the offense. Some of the Patriots games against the Steelers really showed how you can force the front seven into choices that leave your primary read open. They run the dbl TE's up the seam, the outside receivers on go routes and Edelman was free on the shallow cross, every single time. You move a guy down to cover him and leave Gronk on a safety or slow ILB and it favors Gronk. The complexity of the system didnt mean was easy to defeat it just required guys to execute and know their role. Nowadays not so much.

 

Very true.

One of the interesting things is the part of FA that teams are in now. Most of the guys that any team would be glad to roster are off the market. Now it’s all about very specific fits. I’m not sure the pack had a NT on the roster after their earlier trade.

be interesting if Hargrave makes a final act transition. Wouldn’t be the first pass rushing DL that transitions to a space eating run stuffer as they age.

 

100%.

 

Roethlisberger was great in the first quarter in the first 2 years under Cowher...over 100 passing rating in 2004,and 144(!!!)in 2005...Even in 2006,his best quarter was the first...Cowher had way more urgency that Tomlin to starting fast on offense and this is not hard to do since the only time the steelers score over 7 points in the first quarter since the retirement of Roethlisberger was in week 1 in 2022 and it was because of a pick 6!

 

The new safety rule that the nfl had at the start in 2011 hurt the Dick Lebeau(and Dom capers in Green Bay) defense big time.This is no doubt about that.The receiver don't need to paid the price if you want to catch the ball in the middle of the field now

 

That did also have a bit of a impact. Not all of it, but definitely some.

 

I could get Carpl finger. Ahhh I need a nap now.

 

Don't bother responding because you're on ignore.

 

I'm sure you do wish I don't respond.

Run to your safe space where the mean people that call you on your BS can't find you. RUN!!

 

I would rather have someone that Howard could learn from. A diminutive running QB is not an ideal mentor. He is a lesser version of Russell, IMO. That's not say it is certain he would fail in Pittsburgh, it is just my opinion

 

It is a public message board

 

He ran from me long ago

 

Definitely a balance to it. Simplify to get young players playing early and fast at the risk of too simple that the offense can easily exploit.

 

I think it was only 2 from 2004 to 2014 both without Ben

It was in week 17 in 2007 when the steelers rest their starters against the ravens....the other was in 2012 vs Browns when our offense had 8 turnovers!!!

 

As of 2015 when he resigned as the Steelers defensive coordinator, LeBeau's defenses were 26-3 against rookie quarterbacks.

https://www.espn.com/blog/tennessee...-defense-have-done-so-well-against-rookie-qbs

At the end of his career, the defenses weren't as dominant and a guy named Brady completely figured out his defense with the help of the cheating wonder Bill Belichick.

What a class act Dick LeBeau was. He always conducted himself in a way that made you proud that he represented your team. His players absolutely loved him. To hear these guys getting emotional when talking about him is special.

He is one of the truly great men of the NFL.

 

This thread wandered way off track..... and gets into the 'freedom of posting' crap.

But LeBeau's defenses were magnificent. He was going to find a way the pressure QB's one way or another and in-game changes were a thing.
The type of NFL player's also played against him... they got slicker and speedier... and as good as a giant DT playing LB like Levon Kirkland was, he can man up on some of today's RB's and TE's. Blitzburgh would beat up offenses...

He had the background to be great.
I remember his days with Lane and Barney in Detroit. Those guys made life tough for the Bart Starr's, Unites, etc.....

 

Thank you.

Edited for correction.

You know what I meant!

 

My guess is that this is true when you look at this rate / efficiency wise.

But if you look at raw stats (important to look at both), I bet he looks a lot worse early in games.

Could be that I'm just old and my memory isn't great, but IIRC we were super conservative early in games under Cowher. Didn't really let Ben do much until late in the game.